The Witch And The Wolf

Gossip Is For The Boring

"You know, I heard the alpha hasn't even kissed his mate." A voice whispered louder than it should have.

"I've heard they don't even hold hands." Another said. Rumours had been spreading through the pack like wild fire, some more malicious than others.

It was the day of the mating ceremony, something Georgia had been feeling nervous about. It was essentially a werewolf wedding where Adrian would mark her. The ceremony was supposed to take place the day after they met according to the tradition, but then the attack happened and he didn't want to rush his mate.

Send Elaine and Rachelle to my office, now. He mind linked Ethan. His mate was off getting ready with Odette and a few other pack members while Jay made sure all plans were executed properly.

There was a knock at the door. "Come in." He called. The door opened to reveal Ethan and the two girls. "Thank you Ethan, that will be all." He gestured for the two girls to sit down, and so they did. They were silent. Very rarely were pack members escorted directly to the alphas office.

He stood from his desk, moving to the window that overlooked dense foliage of the forest. "So, you like to talk negatively about myself and your Luna." He said, still staring out the wibdow.

Elaine's eyebrows shot up, while Rachelle rolled her eyes. "We're women, gossiping is what we do." She said while staring at her nails. Elaine's eyes widened even more as she stared at her sister.

Adrian laughed without humour. "You call yourself a woman, do you?" He turned back, a dark look in his eye. "I know exactly who you are, Rachelle Elizabeth, and you are no woman."

She stiffened in her seat, Elaine shrunk into hers.

"Sneaking around, listening to conversations you are not privy to." He said. "Pretending you're going into town but instead sneaking off territory for the fun of it, dragging your sister along with promises of finding her mate." Elaine looked down, sad and embarrassed for herself and her sister. Rachelle looked ready to cry. "And now, spreading rumours and falsehoods amongst the pack about your Alpha and Luna, after I accepted you both into the pack, something I didn't have to do." As kind as Adrian was, he would not be walked all over, unless it was his mate. She could do whatever she wanted to him, even break his heart, so long as it was for her happiness. "You are no woman Rachelle, you are a little girl that needs to grow up."

Rachelle gulped loudly. "I-I am sorry, Alpha Adrian." She and Elaine both hung their heads in submission.

"Sorry doesn't quite cut it." He said. "You both will be on toilet duty for a month. You want to talk crap? Enjoy scrubbing it daily."

"Yes Alpha." They both said.

"Rachelle, you may leave and begin your duties. Elaine, I'd like to have a word with you privately." Rachelle was out of there like a bat out of hell while Elaine stayed still, head still low.

Adrian ran his hands over his face tiredly.

"Elaine, I'm going to need you to help keep Rachelle in line." He said. "I know you both went through a lot with your previous pack, especially your sister, but that's no longer a plausible excuse."

Elaine nodded. "I'm so sorry Alpha. I guess now that she gets to live the way she has always wanted to she's taking your kindness for granted, we both are."

The Alpha understood. "Coming out was hard under Alpha Edmunds rule, let alone wanting to present differently." She said as she now looked up at him. "Thank you for accepting us both, but more importantly her. I'll do my best to help my sister do better."

He nodded, pleased with the maturity of the girl. "You may go."

-------

In the midst of women and men running around trying to perfect every detail, there was one woman seemingly unbothered by it all, and she was eating tteok-bokki and kimchi, wondering if there were any wolves in Korea.

Odette rushed into the room, a dress in her arms. "Luna! What are you doing you need to get ready." She laid the dress over a chair before trying to remove the food.

"You touch, you die." She said before shovelling noodles into her mouth. Chewing happily, her gaze fell on the dress. She swallowed and said, "What the hell is that?"

The beta female was puzzled. "That's your dress, Luna."

"Then why isn't it in my size?" She held it up and looked at the tag. "An 8?!" She burst out laughing, confusing Odette further. "I haven't been an 8 since seventh grade." Calming herself down, she laid it over the chair again.

"This wouldn't have happened if you'd let us measure you, or take you shopping." Odette muttered.

Georgia raised an eyebrow at her. "I already told you all, I already picked what I'm going to wear." Moving to the bag she'd brought to the pack house, she sent everyone out. "I can get ready myself, and faster."

Opening the bag, she ran her hands over the chosen outfit. The only prerequisite was for it to be white, and it was. A white matching tracksuit and sneakers. If she was going to be bitten by a werewolf she was going to be comfortable. Besides, this wasn't going to be her real wedding, that would be a much fancier affair.

Looking back over at the dress, she laughed again.

An 8? Sheesh. She thought to herself. Georgia had no problem with her size. Sure 16 was a little bigger than the average female, but she was healthy and happy. Besides, the looks Adrian gave her that she pretended to ignore made her feel even more empowered. The alpha had no shame in letting his mate know he desired her.

Getting dressed, Georgia decided against a full face of make up for the occasion, settling for mascara and lip gloss. Her unruly hair could not be tamed as easily, and was shoved into a low bun. Easy and efficient.

Soon there was a knock on the door signalling that it was time for the ceremony. Taking a deep breath, Georgia gave herself a once over

You can do this.

She exited the room, smiling brightly at Odette and the recently arrived Giovanna, ready to be marked by her mate and consort.